Barrel-opener.



@Nits STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH A. BERONIO, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

BARREL-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,613, dated September 25, 1900.

Application filed March 13, 1900. Serial No. 8,509.

To {L7/Z whom t nea/y concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. BERoNIo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Barrel-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for removing the top hoop of barrels and which may be used with equal facility whether the head is in the barrel or not.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, iu which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the invention in use in connection with a barrel the head of which has been removed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the handle in section, and Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation showing an arrangement of parts different from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The instrument comprises a hand-lever or handle ci, to one end of which is pivoted a hook, comprisingashank h and a transverselydisposed plate b, the edge of which is turned edgewise to forrn the vbill of the hook, such hook serving to engage the hoops of the barrel, as illustrated. Pivoted to the hand-lever ct directly adjacent to the hook is a link c, the free end of which terminates in an enlargement c', formed with two openings c2 and c3 therein. To this head is pivotally connected by a pin d lugs d2, fastened on and forming part of the foot d. This foot is in the form of a plate with a slight transverse bend therein, as best shown in Fig. 2.. The upper end of the plate terminates in a ledge d3, which is directly adjacent to a returniiange d4, and the lower end of which terminatesin spurs d5. The foot is pivotally mounted on the lilik c; but in operation it isintended to be fastened thereto by means of a cotter or like pin e, which is capable of being projected into either one of the openings c2 and c3, and thus hold the foot d in either one of two positions. When the pin e is placed in No model.)

the opening c2, the foot CZ is held with the link c approximately perpendicular thereto, asin Fig. 1, and when the pin is placed in /the opening c3 the foot is held approximately in the plane of the link c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In using the device to open a barrel the head and hoops of which are in place the foot d is secured with respect to the link c in the position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the foot has its spurs d5 rested on the head of the barrel and the ledge cl3 engaged with the staves. The hook comprising the shank b and the fianged plate b is now engaged with the staves, and by throwing down the free end of the hand-lever a the hoops may be drawn from the barrel. Should it be desired to remove the hoops of a barrel, the head of which has been removed, the foot is secured in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the returned ange d4 engaged with the upper ends of the staves, thus permitting the spurs d5 to engage against the inner sides of the staves. Then by engaging the hook with the hoops of the barrel and drawing down on the lever the hoops may be withdrawn. It will also be observed that by reversing the parts c and b and swinging the handle to the opposite position from that shown in Fig. 1 then by placing the foot in the position shown in Fig. 1 the foot may be engaged with the chamfer of the staves and the hook engaged with the hoop. Then by throwing the lever upward the hoop may be removed. This use of the device is very convenient when working with large barrels or hogsheads and is illustrated in Fig. 4t.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a hand-lever, a hook mounted on one end thereof, a link pivotally mounted on the lever adjacent to the hook, and a foot carried adjustably on the link.

2. A barrel-opener, having a hand-lever, a hook mounted thereon, a link pivotally carried on the hand-lever adjacent to the hook, and a foot carried by the link and capable of being thrown in either one of two positions for the purpose specified.

3. A barrel-opener, comprising a hand- IOO lever, a hook mounted at one end thereof, n link pivotallly mounted on the lever adjacent to the hook, a foot pivotally mounted on the link, and means for securing the foot fast on the link in the desired position.

4. A barrel -opener, comprising a handlever, a hook carried thereon, and a 'footconneoted with the lever, the foot having a projecting ledge at one end and a returned flange two subscribing witnesses.

adjacent thereto.

5. A barrel-opener, having a hand-lever, means thereon for engaging the hoops of .ay barrel, and a foot oarried'by the hand-lever and having a projected ledge at one end land a returned flange adjacent thereto.

6. A barrel #openen comprising a'handlever, means carried therebyto engage the hoops, and a foot carried by the hand-lever and capable-of being thrown into either one of two positions, thus facilitating the use of the barrel-opener in connection with a barrel w'ith 'or 4Without 'a hea'd.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of JOSEPH A. BERONIO. Witnesses:

ANTONIO S. IBAEBORO, TOM V. VIGUS. 

